Chapter 1257: The Turtle's Ownership

The cavern fell silent once more.

Baimu held the rhombic crystal, exchanging glances with the others, a certain signal passing between them.

"It's... over?"

This journey was much shorter than imagined; they had all prepared to stay underground for three to five days.

After all, the previous exploration of the Area Zero outskirts had taken nearly three days, yet they had been in the Great Crater of Area Zero for less than half a day.

Past experience told Baimu the plot most likely ended here.

After all, he regarded the Great Crater of Area Zero segment as DLC content.

And DLC plots are always brief; the Queen Leiguanwang in the Wang Guan Snowfields didn't have any overly complicated associated procedures either — nothing more than helping find a horse, battling and catching, that sort of thing.

Baimu fiddled with the crystal, which had shrunk to palm-size to fit perfectly with the Thousand Worlds Wrist, thinking that the Third Deity had fallen into his hands so easily without even a battle-and-catch procedure.

Even finding the Queen Leiguanwang hadn't been this easy back then!

Truly brief enough!

Nemo and Pippa were filled with emotion, while Peony completely lowered her guard and let out a long breath.

She had been terrified that Terapagos would summon a bunch of Paradox Pokémon, trapping them inside the cavern that was spacious yet not particularly spacious.

Although with Baimu and Nemo guarding them, safety certainly wasn't a concern, it was still scary!

Bailiya smiled and said: "Looks like we even saved a Master Ball."

"Then again, if we take Terapagos away, will it have some kind of impact on the Great Crater of Area Zero?"

Pippa suddenly spoke up.

Everyone looked at Bailiya in unison; perhaps only she, who specialized in Terastal energy research, would know the answer to this question.

Bailiya answered: "It shouldn't. Look, these crystals haven't changed due to Terapagos's transformation."

She then cited the Terastal phenomena discovered in various places before: "The crystal pillars are formed by the accumulation of Terastal energy; they are fixed in themselves and won't dissipate easily."

"Makes sense."

Nemo nodded in agreement.

Everyone had seen the Terastal pool in Kitakami with their own eyes; there was no Terapagos there, yet it still glittered brightly.

It could even serve as the medium for Baimu to cross over to the past and return.

Since it can be taken away, the matter of handling Terapagos came next.

Dan Yu: "Terapagos is so close to you; obviously it's more suitable for you to look after it. But Teacher Bailiya needs to conduct research on Terapagos..."

She paused, then proposed: "How about you stay at Blueberry Academy for the time being?"

Wuli might have no destiny with Terapagos, but she has destiny with Baimu!

Even if the sibling relationship couldn't improve, Dan Yu also hoped Wuli could continue to receive his guidance, and even gain his acknowledgment.

Best of all...

Become friends!

"That won't do; I have more important things to do." Baimu refused decisively.

The purpose of going to Blueberry Academy had already been achieved; this year he had no reason to go again.

Bailiya smiled: "That can be discussed after we get out; compared to those, how is Terapagos's condition?"

The curiosity of the group peaking at those words, they all stepped forward to observe the rhombic crystal at close range; the bold Nemo even reached out to touch it directly.

"So cold! No temperature at all!"

"Is that so?"

Pippa subconsciously reached out her hand, but Baimu simply handed it over, startling her so much she nearly dropped it.

It's Terapagos!

It's the Zero Secret Treasure!

The ultimate source of the Time Machine, Terastallization, and the Secret Seasoning!

How can you just toss it around casually?

Pippa complained angrily: "You scared me to death! What if it broke?"

"Relax, this is a Legendary Pokémon."

Baimu felt he was a bit oversensitive.

Given the stance Terapagos had just displayed, even if dropped on the ground it probably wouldn't get angry.

At most it would cry "Pagapa" a couple of times.

Bailiya attempted to join the close-range observation of Terapagos, but when she prepared to put away her instrument, the values displayed on the screen made her freeze.

How...

The quota didn't drop?

Bailiya looked at the crystal platform extremely close to herself, then at Baimu's side's Terapagos, staring at the screen while moving left and right, then forward and back.

After a moment, she said in a trembling voice: "Classmates! Terapagos... there might not be just one!"

As her words fell, gazes of surprise or shock instantly turned toward her.

Bailiya raised the instrument in a high tone: "The platform's value fluctuations are in no way lower than Terapagos's! At the same time, only these two places have the highest quota!"

"Multiple Terapagos—"

Dan Yu quickly ran to the front of the platform, seriously observing the crisscrossing large and small crystal pillars, searching for a rhombic crystal that might exist inside.

Bailiya held up the instrument, attempting to search through minute changes in energy fluctuations.

However, regrettably, no matter how they searched, no construction similar to a rhombic crystal was discovered inside or outside the platform.

"Could it be just some residual traces left by Terapagos?"

Bailiya was unwilling to give up; the sentence she had just spoken was not groundless.

If Terapagos does not belong to a plural existence, why would there be so many Terastal phenomena in various regions?

You must know they are extremely far apart from each other!

Of course, one could also say it is this Terapagos wandering everywhere and leaving them behind.

But Baily personally leans toward the population theory.

"If only this whole piece could be moved out." She looked at Baimu with hope.

Leaving aside how to separate this large crystal pillar, just the transport — right now only Baimu's Shiny Gengar can do it.

Rotom Phone reminded: "The prism might be supporting the cave; rash action could easily cause a collapse."

"Collapse..."

Baily was utterly disappointed.

Then Rotom Phone changed its tune: "But we can attempt it after analysis and calculation."

This guy likes to whet the appetite.

Baimu flicked its shell lightly and said: "Since we've come all this way, we definitely have to bring more stuff back. Rest assured, Teacher Baily, I won't let you return empty-handed."

The ownership of Terapagos has basically been settled.

Since it stuck together with Qianzhou's Wrist and faintly produced some connection with Arceus, Baimu naturally could not generously hand it over to Baily.

Helping with research is fine.

"Leave it to me!"

Under Baily's expectant gaze, Rotom Phone shifted form and scanned the crystal pillar.

The others had nothing to do, so they tried exploring every hidden corner —

What if there's a Terapagos hiding in some corner?

And this place isn't necessarily the deepest part of the Zero Lab.

Baimu kept playing with Terapagos, turning the palm-sized crystal disc over and over.

Its guts have grown considerably.

"Another one that can be abducted home..."

He hadn't expected this trip out would not only catch a bunch of Paradox Pokemon, but also get a Terapagos.

With the source of Terastal in hand, why need Ecological Core technology?

Following the Mega Evolution wave technology originating from Jarvis, his future school has added yet another new battle system.

Terastallization!

Congratulations indeed!

From now on, if he wants to practice Terastallization, he doesn't have to teleport to the Pokemon Center to charge anymore; he can handle it himself!

The corner of Baimu's mouth curled up slightly; he took out the Tera Orb from his pocket, but was surprised to find this thing glowing.

Corresponding to it was Terapagos.

In a trance, there seemed to be a faint white light band connecting it and the Tera Orb.

Is it absorbing the Terastal energy inside?

No.

It shouldn't be.

The concentration of Terastal energy in the cave is so high, why would it pick its own Tera Orb to suck from?

Infusing?

The Tera Orb won't get charged until it explodes, will it!

Baimu hurriedly went to ask Baily; the others gathered to inquire, looking at the shining Tera Orb and Terapagos in amazement.

"Hard to judge."

Baily shook her head.

By naked eye alone, it's truly impossible to make any judgment on the situation.

Nemo also took out her Tera Orb, then discovered her bead also lit up along with it.

She exclaimed softly: "Huh? My Tera Orb too?"

Seeing this, Pippa and the rest all took out their own Tera Orbs, and Terapagos unceremoniously connected them all together.

Mudan said: "Come to think of it, Terapagos's current appearance is a bit similar to the structure inside the Tera Orb."

Inside the Tera Orb, there was also stored a hexagonal rhombic crystal.

Pippa said: "I feel like when my dad developed the Tera Orb, he probably referenced Terapagos's current appearance."

Makes perfect sense!

From Professor Futaba's notes, it's not hard to see he had seen Terapagos, and even knew it was slumbering.

"Could it be treating the crystals inside as its kind, wanting to infuse power to 'revive' them?"

Baily still insisted on her Terapagos plural theory.

During the conversation, Baimu's Tera Orb suddenly dimmed, while Nemo's and the others' kept shining.

"Charging complete?"

He hesitated slightly, then activated it and threw it onto Miltank's head, making it Terastallize.

A surprising thing happened.

After completing Terastallization, the Tera Orb that flew back still maintained an active state, as if it could Terastallize again!

You must know a Tera Orb without charging is only enough for one Pokemon to Terastallize once!

Its own energy storage limit is just that.

"This — a hidden energy source behind it?"

Baimu muttered to himself.

Nimo's Tai Jingzhu also finished charging quickly, and she eagerly helped Babu Tuzha complete the Tai Jinghua.

The subsequent situation was exactly the same as Baimu's.

Bai Leiya thought: "Is it, helping you expand the Tai Jing energy storage space of the Tai Jingzhu?"

Many possibilities swirled in her mind, and she unconsciously adopted a resolute posture: "I really wish I could get back to the lab sooner!"

"Baimu! I can start working on my side!"

The sound of a multi-line phone came through.

Baimu walked forward, saw on the screen the cutting range it had planned, "Alright, let Boss Kedula operate the shovel, it's more skilled."

In the team, regarding excavation and cutting ability, Boss Kedula is undoubtedly the best.

In an instant, under the primary operation of Boss Kedula's excavator and the auxiliary support of Baimu and others.

Countless crystal pillars, interwoven and enveloping, the crystal platform was gradually dismantled.

The partially connected parts were shattered, allowing it to retain a relatively intact shape.

Bai Leiya was overjoyed, her eyes following the platform until it was swallowed by the Ghost Guy, then she reluctantly withdrew her gaze.

"Let's go home!"

She announced loudly.

—

Departure time is 6 a. m.

And when everyone re-entered the elevator, it happened to be around 3 p. m.

Under the orange warm light, the sound of intestinal peristalsis suddenly rang out.

From Nimo's Pokémon Babu Tuzha.

"Ba ba~"

It embarrassedly hehe laughed.

Nimo patted its head, saying: "By the way, I'm also a bit hungry, let's have a big meal at the observation station later!"

After tossing around for half a day in the Great Void of Zero, having drunk no water and eaten no grain, now relaxing, it's inevitable to feel parched and starving.

"I still have plenty of sandwiches here; if you can't resist, you can first fill your stomach."

Baimu took out various sandwiches, letting everyone choose.

The benefit of this is that both Pokémon and humans can eat it, unlike some exclusive rations that contain things hard for humans to swallow.

For example, rare tree fruits, ores, tree roots, nuts, poisonous fungi, etc.

Dileton went first and ate two, the Mastiff Godfather followed by snatching one and sharing it with the Fairy Eevee.

Babu Tuzha followed suit, splitting one in half and handing it to Sumor Tea.

It was refused.

The Ghost-type Sumor Tea does not like eating solid food.

Nimo, Paipa, and others also didn't hold back, taking what they should and sharing what they should.

When the group returned to the Zero Zone Research Institute, they were basically chewing half a sandwich in their mouths.

But what surprised them was, when the research institute's outer gate opened, a red-skinned lizard with a resentful gaze was crouched on the slope below.

"Goo~~Ao~~"

"You guys are too hateful, for not giving me a sandwich, you hid in this place to secretly eat!"

Dileton loudly accused everyone of their crimes.

It doesn't know what Baimu and the others went down to do, seeing them eating sandwiches, it's certain they were secretly eating behind its back!

"When did you get so close to it?"

Paipa poked Baimu's back.

Remember half a year ago when I first met Dileton, this guy was fierce.

Even after being beaten by Dileton, it didn't become as obedient as now.

Baimu replied: "Just fed it plain sandwiches."

He has no deep interaction with Dileton, it's all thanks to his miraculous sandwich-making.

Does Dileton's beating count?

He stepped down the stairs, faced the resentful Dileton, and said: "Have you realized your mistake?"

"Guao?"

Dileton obviously hasn't realized it.

Or perhaps, it simply doesn't think ignoring Baimu's advice last night was wrong.

"An unsalvageable child!"

Baimu regrettably patted its head, after obtaining Tai Lebagos, he was full of thoughts on how to maximize its use in school.

As for Dileton, he truly didn't want to divert too much energy to interfere with it.

Dr. Futubo's suggestion can be discussed later.

"Guao?"

Dileton grew even more confused, it followed the crowd's silhouette all the way back to the Fourth Observation Station.

Dr. Futubo was very surprised by their return time.

"Everyone! Welcome back!"

"Hahaha! Dr. Futubo! We successfully found the Zero Secret Treasure!"

Bai Leiya couldn't hide her inner excitement, eager to share with him the process of the Great Void of Zero.

Nemo went to contact Yaci as well.

She was, after all, a Champion-level Trainer of the Paldea League; the many matters that had occurred in Area Zero ought to be reported to the League Chairwoman at the first opportunity.

A short while later, a meeting concerning Terapagos was convened inside the Fourth Observation Station.

Yaci and the Elite Four all appeared via video; through the screens they saw the crystallized Terapagos.

Cinny spoke up: "Is this the source of Terastallization? Why does it feel so similar in structure to what's inside a Tera Orb?"

Hassaku expressed agreement: "You could say it's eighty or ninety percent similar."

"Baimu, can you wake it up?"

Yaci was comparatively more concerned about Terapagos's condition after its transformation.

Baimu shook his head. "I'm afraid I haven't figured out Terapagos's situation yet either, so there's nothing I can do about it."